Rose Bowl Returns To Full Seating Capacity

PASADENA, CA — When UCLA returns to the Rose Bowl this fall it will be to the roar of a full stadium.

The announcement came as California lifted its coronavirus restrictions statewide. Schools officials said the first game to feature the stadium back at 100 percent seating capacity will be the home opener Aug. 28 against the University of Hawaii.

Other UCLA athletic events taking place outdoors will also open seating back up to full capacity for the upcoming 2021-22 season, including soccer and water polo. Specifics regarding health and safety rules for spectators are still being worked out, according to university officials.

“We are excited to welcome back students, alumni and fans to the Rose Bowl and our other outside sporting events,” UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. “Getting the COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged to provide the safest environment for everyone. We will continue to follow local and state health and safety protocols in order to maintain a safe environment for our fans.”

Fans returning to the Rose Bowl should expect the ticketing process to be a little bit different than from past games. For the upcoming season UCLA will only accept digital tickets for all home games.

While details are light on how the new system will work, school officials said it will allow spectators to save tickets on their phone in order to allow for a “safe and easy entrance at the Rose Bowl.”

The stadium has sat empty for the last year because of the pandemic, and city officials have grappled with how to secure long-term funding for the venue. It’s expected the Rose Bowl will see a $5.4 million to $7.7 million annual gap in revenue over the next several years.

The Pasadena City Council has even discussed using $10 million from its reserves to help cover the stadium’s $12.5 million annual debt service obligation.